Early Report: Latin and Local at NYC’s ABC Cocina

Local, seasonal cooking amid haute housewares proved a winning formula for Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's ABC Kitchen, which opened three years ago inside ABC Carpet & Home. Two-week-old ABC Cocina, which occupies the neighboring space that once housed Pipa, takes a similar approach with Latin flavors and is already a tough table.

Early word from Chowhounds is encouraging. A starter of fluke with herbs and brightly acidic chile dressing (pictured) is "spring in a bowl," roze raves, and comes complete with sound effects: pleasing little pops from bites of crunchy rice. Shrimp with aromatic garlic-chile oil is piquant and flavorful, kosmose7 reports. And tacos are served with a variety of fillings, including meaty glazed short rib with a fiery yet well-balanced habanero sauce that roze found especially crave-worthy. "I'm pretty sure I could put this on everything I eat from now on," she says.